Colchester's Beefeater restaurant shuts doors for good

The Albert Beefeater, in Cowdray Avenue, closed to walk-ins earlier this year and shut its door for the final time in July. 

Not all traces of the restaurant and pub are being removed with signs at the entrance and on the building coming down. 

Planned job losses affecting about 1,500 staff across the country were announced in April by Whitebread, which owns the Albert Beefeater. 

At the end of June the firm told the Gazette the consultation was still underway. 

However within days the restaurant had served its final customer. 

Before - the Beefeater resides when it still had its signs up in June (Image: Newsquest)

Dominic Paul, Chief Executive Officer, said: “When I joined Whitbread as CEO in January 2023, it was clear to me that we had a high performing hotels business, with a strong platform for growth in both the UK and Germany. 

"Our strategy of continuing to invest in our brand, teams, and estate for the benefit of our guests and customers has secured a market-leading position for Premier Inn in the UK and is also delivering strong business performance. 

“Our significant freehold estate and strong balance sheet mean we are in a unique position to be able to add 3,500 new hotel rooms and meet the strong demand we are seeing from guests around the country, whilst continuing to offer a great breakfast and dinner at all of our hotels.

After - how the Beefeater looks now signs have been removed (Image: Newsquest)

"This plan is a further positive step, delivering a better experience for our hotel guests and helping to extend our market leadership in the UK. 

“I recognise that these changes will be unsettling for affected team members and we are committed to working hard to enable as many as possible of those affected to stay with Whitbread by either transferring into roles this plan will create, or by taking up other vacancies across the business more broadly through our existing recruitment activity that makes c.15,000 hires each year.

The entrance to the Beefeater only has a Premier Inn sign now (Image: Newsquest)

"Our teams are at the heart of our guest experience, and I want to thank each and every team member for their continued hard work and dedication to deliver the great quality, service and value that our guests expect from us.” 

Customers at the Colchester restaurant were met with closed doors in May and June despite assurances it has not closed fully. 

Following the Gazette’s earlier reports about the rumours, a source confirmed the news. 

They said: “Your article is correct. The Albert is now only open for breakfast for Premier Inn guests only. 

“They ceased trading all restaurant and bar operations on Friday the 21st at around 9pm. The doors are locked and they are no longer catering to customers.

"It’s due to be refurbished into more hotel rooms. Most of the staff are staying on at the hotel. 

A Whitebread spokesman confirmed at the time “the site is prioritising hotel guests at the current time and is currently unable to serve walk-ins".